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Fixing Common OJS Errors: 500 Internal Server Error & Email Issues
A troubleshooting guide for the most frustrating OJS issues, including HTTP 500 errors, blank pages, and SMTP email delivery failures.
Real Problem
Editors often face 500 Internal Server Errors after installing plugins, or realize authors are not receiving registration and review emails.
Practical Solution
Resolving OJS errors requires checking the server error logs, adjusting file permissions, and properly configuring SMTP settings in config.inc.php.
Diagnosing The 500 Internal Server Error
A 500 error is a generic message. To fix it, you must read your server’s PHP error log to see the exact cause.
Common causes include incompatible plugins, incorrect PHP versions, or exhausted memory limits.
Fixing The Blank White Page
If OJS displays a completely blank page, it usually means a fatal PHP error occurred but error display is turned off.
Turning on "display_errors" in config.inc.php temporarily will reveal the hidden error message.
Solving Email Delivery Failures
If OJS is not sending emails, the default PHP mail() function is likely being blocked by your host for spam prevention.
The reliable fix is to configure SMTP in config.inc.php using a professional domain email account.
File Upload And Permission Errors
If authors cannot upload submissions, check the permissions on your private files directory. It must be writable by the web server.
Also verify that the PHP "upload_max_filesize" limit is high enough for large research PDFs.
Step-by-Step Action Plan
Check the error logs
Always check the server error log before guessing the cause of a 500 error.
Configure SMTP correctly
Use valid SMTP credentials in config.inc.php to ensure emails are delivered reliably.
Verify file permissions
Ensure the public and private file directories are writable by OJS.
Questions People Usually Ask
Why am I getting a 500 error after installing an OJS plugin?
The plugin is likely incompatible with your OJS version or PHP version. You may need to delete the plugin folder manually.
How do I setup SMTP in OJS?
Edit config.inc.php, enable SMTP, and enter your mail server, port, username, and password.
Why does OJS say the directory is not writable?
The server permissions on your submission files folder are too strict. They usually need to be 755 or owned by the web server user.
Struggling with OJS technical errors?
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